Democratic Congressman John
Murtha gave a press conference on Thursday 17 November 2005 introducing his
resolution for redeployment of American troops in Iraq.

transcript

"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy
wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States
and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a
change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is
at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that
continued military action is not in the best interests of the United States of
America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region.

"General Casey said in a September 2005 hearing, "the perception of
occupation in Iraq is a major driving force behind the insurgency." General
Abizaid said on the same date, "Reducing the size and visibility of the
coalition forces in Iraq is part of our counterinsurgency strategy."

"For 2 ½ years, I have been concerned about the U.S. policy and the plan in
Iraq. I have addressed my concerns with the Administration and the Pentagon
and have spoken out in public about my concerns. The main reason for going to
war has been discredited. A few days before the start of the war I was in
Kuwait - the military drew a red line around Baghdad and said when U.S. forces
cross that line they will be attacked by the Iraqis with Weapons of Mass
Destruction - but the US forces said they were prepared. They had well trained
forces with the appropriate protective gear.

"We spend more money on Intelligence that all the countries in the world
together, and more on Intelligence than most countries GDP. But the
intelligence concerning Iraq was wrong. It is not a world intelligence
failure. It is a U.S. intelligence failure and the way that intelligence was
misused.

"I have been visiting our wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed
hospitals almost every week since the beginning of the War. And what
demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make
the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to
Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second
or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of
support.

"The threat posed by terrorism is real, but we have other threats that
cannot be ignored. We must be prepared to face all threats. The future of our
military is at risk. Our military and their families are stretched thin. Many
say that the Army is broken. Some of our troops are on their third deployment.
Recruitment is down, even as our military has lowered its standards. Defense
budgets are being cut. Personnel costs are skyrocketing, particularly in
health care. Choices will have to be made. We cannot allow promises we have
made to our military families in terms of service benefits, in terms of their
health care, to be negotiated away. Procurement programs that ensure our
military dominance cannot be negotiated away. We must be prepared. The war in
Iraq has caused huge shortfalls at our bases in the U.S.

"Much of our ground transportation is worn out and in need of either serous
overhaul or replacement. George Washington said, "To be prepared for war is
one of the most effective means of preserving peace." We must rebuild out
Army. Our deficit is growing out of control. The Director of the Congressional
Budget Office recently admitted to being "terrified" about the budget deficit
in the coming decades. This is the first prolonged war we have fought with
three years of tax cuts, without full mobilization of American industry and
without a draft. The burden of this war has not been shared equally; the
military and their families are shouldering this burden.

"Our military has been fighting a war in Iraq for over two and a half
years. Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty. Our
military captured Saddam Hussein, and captured or killed his closest
associates. But the war continues to intensify. Deaths and injuries are
growing, with over 2,079 confirmed American deaths. Over 15,500 have been
seriously injured and it is estimated that over 50,000 will suffer from battle
fatigue. There have been reports of at least 30,000 Iraqi civilian deaths.

"I just recently visited Anbar Province Iraq in order to assess the
condition on the ground. Last May 2005, as part of the Emergency Supplemental
Spending Bill, the House included to Moran Amendment, which was accepted in
Conference, and which required the Secretary of Defense to submit quarterly
reports to Congress in order to more accurately measure stability and security
in Iraq. We have not received two reports. I am disturbed by the findings in
key indicator areas. Oil production and energy production are below pre-war
levels. Our reconstruction efforts have been crippled by security situation.
Only $9 billion of the $18 billion appropriated for reconstruction has been
spent. Unemployment remains at about 60 percent. Clean water is scarce. Only
$500 million of the $2.2 billion appropriated for water projects have been
spent. And most importantly, insurgent incidents have increased from about 150
per week to over 700 in the last year. Instead of attacks going down over time
and with the addition of more troops, attacks have grown dramatically. Since
the revelations at Abu Ghraib, American causalities have doubled. An annual
State Department report in 2004 indicated a sharp increase in global
terrorism.

"I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration
agrees, Iraq can not be won "militarily." I said two years ago, the key to
progress in Iraq is to Iraqitize, Internationalize and Energize. I believe the
same today. But I have concluded that the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is
impeding this progress.

"Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency. They are
untied against U.S. forces and we have become a catalyst for violence. U.S.
troops are the common enemy of the Sunnis, Saddamists and foreign jihadists. I
believe with a U.S. troop redeployment, the Iraq security forces will be
incentivized to take control. A poll recently conducted shows that over 80% of
Iraqis are strongly opposed to the presence of coalition troops, about 45% of
the Iraqi population believe attacks against American troops are justified. I
believe we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis. I believe before the Iraqi
elections, scheduled for mid December, the Iraqi people and the emerging
government must be put on notice that the United States will immediately
redeploy. All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free. Free from United Stated
occupation. I believe this will send a signal to the Sunnis to join the
political process for the good of a "free" Iraq.

"My plan calls:

To immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S.
forces.

To create a quick reaction force in the region.

To create an over-the-horizon presence of Marines.

To diplomatically pursue security and stability in Iraq.

"This war needs to be personalized. As I said before, I have visited with
the severely wounded of this war. They are suffering.

"Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons and daughters
into battle, it is our responsibility, our obligation, to speak out for them.
That's why I am speaking out.

"Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the U.S. can
not accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. It is time to bring them
home."

Resolution: text of the resolution Murtha
Resolution To Redeploy U.S. Forces from Iraq:

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 17, 2005

MR. MURTHA introduced the following joint resolution, which was referred to
the Committee on _____________________

Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear,
measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in
Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential
to "promote the emergence of a democratic government";

Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U, S. military forces cannot be
achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U S.
troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;

Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States
Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been
killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;

Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency,

Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want U.S.
forces out of Iraq;

Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the
attacks on U.S. forces are justified;

Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing
U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States
of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited
in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;

Therefore be it

I) Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in

2) Congress assembled,

3) That:

4) Section 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction
of Congress, is

5) hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the
earliest practicable

6) date.

7) Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence
of U.S Marines

8) shall be deployed in the region.

9) Section 3 The United States of America shall pursue security and
stability in Iraq